Will the Abba Voyage Multimedia Arena Be Dismantled? The City Has Other Ideas

In May 2022, ABBA, or more precisely, avatars representing the musicians from 1979, made their London stage debut, performing some of the Swedish group's greatest songs. A special arena was built in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the concerts. According to British press reports, the arena is to be dismantled and a housing development built in its place.

With "Abba Voyage," the Swedish band returned to the stage after a nearly 40-year absence. For six years, the group worked on a special show format in which avatars of the musicians appeared on stage instead of actual musicians . The idea proved a resounding success, and it's safe to say it spawned a new form of stage performance that other artists followed. Although tickets for the show are still available for booking until January 2026, the future of the venue seems to be sealed.

According to the British newspaper The Sun, the temporary Abba Voyage Arena is to be dismantled. Residential blocks are to be built in its place. Construction work around the arena is scheduled to begin next year. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2033.

Abba Voyage Arena/photo Shutterstock

The reports may seem surprising, especially since the show has been hugely popular since its inception. In 2023 alone, the show was watched by over a million viewers, generating over £103 million in revenue. In a report filed with Companies House (the British equivalent of the National Court Register), Aniara, the company responsible for the show, assured the public that the show would remain available.

"There is a strong demand for 'ABBA Voyage'. The group's long-term strategy is to continue performing in London for as long as it is commercially viable," the organisers stated.

A spokesman for the London Legacy Development Corp (LLDC) , which is managing the redevelopment of the area, spoke in a similar vein.

"ABBA Voyage has been a tremendous success for East London, and ABBA Arena is currently the only venue in the world where you can see this incredible concert. We currently have no plans for any changes and are in constant contact with the organisers of ABBA Voyage regarding the future," he said.

It may therefore turn out that the temporary structure will be erected elsewhere in London or find a new home elsewhere in the world. It was previously reported that the show's success encouraged organizers to hold similar concerts in Las Vegas, for example.